By IN what appears like a slight on Yoruba traditional stool, the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land, Sheik Teliat Yinus Ayilara, says his office is not subject to the rulership of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye.
According to him, the office of the Chief Imam is not a traditional title under the royal stool of the land and hence not answerable to him.
Sheik Ayilara was reportedly responding to a query from the Soun of Ogbomoso for embarking on pilgrimage to Mecca without a recourse to notifying the first class monarch.
In response, Ayilara, who’s been against the choice and ascension of Oba Ghandi as Soun of Ogbomoso, noted that the office of the Chief Imam is not under the control of the monarch and, therefore, has no power to issue him a query.
In the letter addressed to the Soun, the alleged rebellious Chief Imam noted that his response to the query was due to his deep respect for Yoruba culture and tradition.
Ayilara, in the letter signed by his secretary, Ogunleye Sulaimon Ajasa, and made available to journalists, reiterated that as the Muslim and spiritual head of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso, he is not permitted to subsume the rules regulating the practice of Islam to Yoruba tradition and culture.
“My case is that the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland is not a traditional title, and as such, it is not under the control of Soun of Ogbomosoland.
“My case against your majesty is still in court. And I strongly believe that when a matter is in court, the parties in the case must respect the authority of the court by abstaining from anything that may affect the case in court.
“Your majesty calling on me to revert the appointment of those Muslim brethren I installed as Grand Mufti of Ogbomosoland, Amirul Wa’izin of Ogbomosoland, Khadimul-Islam of Ogbomosoland and Kanzul ‘Ulama’ of Ogbomosoland, to immediately return to Nigeria and rectify the appointment of acting Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland I made is directly related to the case in court and I think the court must be respected.
“I also need to state that I am responding to your Majesty’s letters out of deep respect I have for Yoruba culture and tradition.
“However, as a Muslim and spiritual head of the Muslim community in Ogbomosoland, I am not subjugating the rules regulating the practice of Islam to Yoruba tradition and culture.
“It is a collective right of all Muslims. Kabiesi, I have forwarded the letters to my lawyers for onward transmission to the court. God bless Ogbomosoland, God bless Oyo State and God bless Nigeria at large,” the Chief Imam retorted.
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